The Rizzcast Podcast

He Wrote “God of This City” in a Thai Bar

An honest conversation about worship, justice, and refusing to build celebrity altars. In this episode, I sit down with Aaron Boyd to trace the unlikely path from a rainy Belfast upbringing to writing God Of The City in a Thai bar, and to unpack what it means to join worship and justice. Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER? Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x [https://shorturl.at/oqB6x] Want to grow as a SONGWRITER? Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM [https://shorturl.at/FQAnM] ABOUT THIS EPISODE  Aaron Boyd is a songwriter and worship leader from Belfast, Northern Ireland, best known for writing God Of The City, later recorded by Chris Tomlin and sung in churches around the world. But the song was not born in a stadium. It was written in a bar in Pattaya, Thailand, overlooking streets marked by exploitation and heartbreak. In this episode, Justin Rizzo talks with Aaron about that night, and about the deeper story behind it. They explore his strict church upbringing with no drums, meeting Jesus as a teenager, and how early worship leading slowly turned into songwriting with a burden for broken cities. ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo. I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching. How I got here… 7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder. 9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.   12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship. 13 yrs old: Led an original song at church. 13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again.  16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship. 18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader. 19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again. 20 yrs old: Recorded my first record. 23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden. 24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading. 25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing. 26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films. 27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical   29 yrs old: Started my own production company. Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and speaking at events. Support the show [http://www.patreon.com/justinrizzo] ▶️ ABOUT Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide. ▶️ LISTEN SPOTIFY [https://shorturl.at/R8PJB] YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoMusic] APPLE MUSIC [https://shorturl.at/Mxdgp] SOAKING WORSHIP [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoSoakingWorship] ▶️ CONNECT BOOKING [https://www.justinrizzo.com/booking] COACHING [https://www.justinrizzotraining.com/] WEBSITE [http://www.justinrizzo.com/] INSTAGRAM [http://www.instagram.com/justinrizzomusic] FACEBOOOK [https://www.facebook.com/justindavidrizzo] PRODUCTION COMPANY [https://www.firelightcreativeproductions.com/]

5 Ways to Handle Vision Killers

If you’ve ever left a meeting with someone feeling smaller than your calling, tempted to cancel or lessen your vision, and overwhelmed by someone else’s objections, this episode will steady you - and remind you that builders don’t stop at the wall. They look for the door. Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER? Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x [https://shorturl.at/oqB6x] Want to grow as a SONGWRITER? Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM [https://shorturl.at/FQAnM] ABOUT THIS EPISODE In an age of hot takes, fear, and one-track minded leaders, many creators are facing a different kind of pressure. Pressure to scale back. Pressure to play safe. Pressure to call something “wisdom” when it’s really fear. In this episode, Justin unpacks a recent meeting that sought to derail his creative project, and the five lessons that emerged from it. A candid conversation about courage, counsel, and the pressure that tries to shrink vision.  ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo. I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching. How I got here… 7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder. 9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.   12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship. 13 yrs old: Led an original song at church. 13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again.  16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship. 18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader. 19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again. 20 yrs old: Recorded my first record. 23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden. 24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading. 25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing. 26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films. 27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical   29 yrs old: Started my own production company. Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and speaking at events. Support the show [http://www.patreon.com/justinrizzo] ▶️ ABOUT Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide. ▶️ LISTEN SPOTIFY [https://shorturl.at/R8PJB] YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoMusic] APPLE MUSIC [https://shorturl.at/Mxdgp] SOAKING WORSHIP [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoSoakingWorship] ▶️ CONNECT BOOKING [https://www.justinrizzo.com/booking] COACHING [https://www.justinrizzotraining.com/] WEBSITE [http://www.justinrizzo.com/] INSTAGRAM [http://www.instagram.com/justinrizzomusic] FACEBOOOK [https://www.facebook.com/justindavidrizzo] PRODUCTION COMPANY [https://www.firelightcreativeproductions.com/]

The Grief That Rebuilt His Faith with Andy Squyres

A candid, hope-filled conversation with special guest Andy Squyres about grief, deconstruction, and rebuilding faith through honest art and everyday faithfulness. Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER?  Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x Want to grow as a SONGWRITER?  Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM ABOUT THIS EPISODE Worship music and the Christian industry can shape more than songs, they can shape identity. In this episode, Justin sits down with Andy Squyres for an honest conversation about ambition, disappointment, grief, and the kind of faith that survives when formulas stop working. They explore the tension between platform and presence, the pressure to succeed in worship spaces, and how a public flop and personal loss became the unlikely ground where deeper trust in Jesus was formed. If you’ve wrestled with deconstruction, felt disillusioned with shallow answers, or longed for a faith big enough to hold sorrow and hope at the same time, this episode is for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a review to help more creatives discover the show. ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo. I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching. How I got here… 7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder. 9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.   12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship. 13 yrs old: Led an original song at church. 13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again.  16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship. 18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader. 19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again. 20 yrs old: Recorded my first record. 23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden. 24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading. 25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing. 26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films. 27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical   29 yrs old: Started my own production company. Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and speaking at events. Support the show [http://www.patreon.com/justinrizzo] ▶️ ABOUT Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide. ▶️ LISTEN SPOTIFY [https://shorturl.at/R8PJB] YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoMusic] APPLE MUSIC [https://shorturl.at/Mxdgp] SOAKING WORSHIP [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoSoakingWorship] ▶️ CONNECT BOOKING [https://www.justinrizzo.com/booking] COACHING [https://www.justinrizzotraining.com/] WEBSITE [http://www.justinrizzo.com/] INSTAGRAM [http://www.instagram.com/justinrizzomusic] FACEBOOOK [https://www.facebook.com/justindavidrizzo] PRODUCTION COMPANY [https://www.firelightcreativeproductions.com/]

Why People Say The Chosen Isn’t Biblical

A thoughtful, Scripture-anchored conversation about Christian storytelling, artistic imagination, and how faith-filled films can reach hearts beyond church walls.  Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER?  Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x Want to grow as a SONGWRITER?  Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM ABOUT THIS EPISODE Christian films and shows spark passionate conversations, and sometimes painful ones. Artists trying to honor Scripture while telling compelling stories often find themselves under fire, not from culture, but from fellow believers. In this episode, Justin tackles one of the most misunderstood tensions in faith-driven media: the difference between expanding a biblical narrative for clarity and contradicting Scripture altogether. If you care about faithful storytelling, Christian creativity, and reaching culture with truth and beauty, this episode is for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more people discover the show. Then check the show notes for tour dates, Creative Legacy Conference details, and ways to partner with Firelight Creative Productions as we raise funds for our next film, Deborah. ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO If you’re new here, my name is Justin Rizzo. I'm a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. I'm the founder of the Worship Leader Academy which has helped hundreds of worship leaders grow and develop through online community and one-on-one coaching. How I got here… 7 yrs old: Love for music began with the recorder. 9 yrs old: Started drum lessons.   12 yrs old: Parents taught how to lead worship. 13 yrs old: Led an original song at church. 13 yrs old: Vowed I'd never do it again.  16 yrs old: Began to really love leading worship. 18 yrs old: Became a full-time worship leader. 19 yrs old: Broke my vow and began writing again. 20 yrs old: Recorded my first record. 23 yrs old: Leading began to feel like a burden. 24 yrs old: Blogged about worship leading. 25 yrs old: Started therapy and found healing. 26 yrs old: Called to produce musicals and films. 27 yrs old: Wrote and produced my first musical   29 yrs old: Started my own production company. Today: I live full-time as a worship leader and creative. I've written and produced three award- winning musical films, had millions stream my music, and travel the world leading worship and speaking at events. Support the show [http://www.patreon.com/justinrizzo] ▶️ ABOUT Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide. ▶️ LISTEN SPOTIFY [https://shorturl.at/R8PJB] YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoMusic] APPLE MUSIC [https://shorturl.at/Mxdgp] SOAKING WORSHIP [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoSoakingWorship] ▶️ CONNECT BOOKING [https://www.justinrizzo.com/booking] COACHING [https://www.justinrizzotraining.com/] WEBSITE [http://www.justinrizzo.com/] INSTAGRAM [http://www.instagram.com/justinrizzomusic] FACEBOOOK [https://www.facebook.com/justindavidrizzo] PRODUCTION COMPANY [https://www.firelightcreativeproductions.com/]

Josh Scott (JHS Pedals): From a Broken Guitar Pedal to a Global Brand

A wide-ranging, honest conversation about creativity, faith, business, and why “safe” art often feels hollow. In this episode, we sit down with Josh Scott of JHS Pedals to explore lament in storytelling, empathy in leadership, brand-building from obscurity, and how integrity shapes everything from guitar pedals to nonprofit studios. CONNECT WITH JOSH https://www.instagram.com/joshuaheathscott PRE-ORDER JOSH'S BOOK  https://www.thirdmanbooks.com/ Want to grow as a WORSHIP LEADER? Go here: https://shorturl.at/oqB6x Want to grow as a SONGWRITER? Go here: https://shorturl.at/FQAnM ABOUT THIS EPISODE Josh Scott has built one of the most recognizable pedal companies in the world, but his story didn’t start in factories or feature articles. It started in rural Alabama, in a shed with a hole in the floor, obsession-level curiosity, late-night circuit textbooks, and a stubborn refusal to fake what wasn’t real. In this episode, Justin sits down with Josh to talk about the long road from burnout and near-miss record deals to church planting, entrepreneurship, and global scale. They unpack why process matters more than product, how pricing communicates value, what perception does to brand trust, and how serving a niche well can grow into a company shipping over 150,000 units a year. If you’re a creative, founder, or curious skeptic, this episode will stretch how you think about art, calling, and building something that lasts. Subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a push toward honest work, and leave a review with one idea you’ll act on this week. ABOUT JUSTIN RIZZO Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker based in the Midwest, USA. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus and surrendering our lives to Him. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide. Support the show [http://www.patreon.com/justinrizzo] ▶️ ABOUT Justin Rizzo is a worship leader, songwriter, and filmmaker. He is passionate about authentic worship and creativity, focused on bringing glory to Jesus. Justin also dedicates himself to raising up and coaching worship leaders and creatives of all types, nurturing their growth and success. In addition, he owns Firelight Creative, a production company that has produced multiple award-winning musicals and films, and hosts gatherings for creatives both online and in person. Justin travels extensively to lead worship and speak at events worldwide. ▶️ LISTEN SPOTIFY [https://shorturl.at/R8PJB] YOUTUBE [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoMusic] APPLE MUSIC [https://shorturl.at/Mxdgp] SOAKING WORSHIP [https://www.youtube.com/@JustinRizzoSoakingWorship] ▶️ CONNECT BOOKING [https://www.justinrizzo.com/booking] COACHING [https://www.justinrizzotraining.com/] WEBSITE [http://www.justinrizzo.com/] INSTAGRAM [http://www.instagram.com/justinrizzomusic] FACEBOOOK [https://www.facebook.com/justindavidrizzo] PRODUCTION COMPANY [https://www.firelightcreativeproductions.com/]